NORTHEM RAILWAYS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16823, 13 April 1918, Page 8

NORTHEM RAILWAYS.

EARLY CONSTRUCTION URGED

IMPUTATION TO MINISTER. ;&*■ •. : -, , fflr (rJt«6BAWI.-4riCliL COBBKSPO.VDEJJT.]

WELLINGTON. Frids*. The question of expediting the construction of railways in North Auckland was brought before the 'Minister for Public Works to-day by : a deputation of Auckland members, headed by Mr. F. Mander. .'Mr. Mander stated that the deputation was the outcome of resolutions passed at meetings at Maungaturoto and Whangarei. Only about 22 miles of the branch line to Whangarei remained to be completed, but the -completion of this communication would be delayed for a considcrablctliinc unless the tunnels were pushed on with immediately. If the necessary ordinary labour was riot available, ho urged that Slav labour should bo employed.

Mr. V.' H. Reed, who also urf/ed that tho gap referred to by Mr. Mander should be completed as soon as possible, suggested that Dalmatians should not be taken away from the North, as had been suggested, but that they should be employed on the railway works in the North, At present, he said, the gap between the Main Trunk line and Whangarei separated two lengths of line, each a distance of about eighty miles.

Mr. O. J. Parr said the Auckland Railways League regarded the completion of tho connecting branch line as tho most important work in the district. The tunnels also should be pushed on with. Messrs. J. S. Dickson, J. Payne and A. E. Glover spoke to similar effect. Sir William Fraser said what was now being urged upon him had been anticipated by; him some time ago. Tho chief difficulty had been the shortage of labour, and during the last two months he had been investigating the question of Slav labour. Some Slavs were already employed, the number engaged during the last 18 months being about ninety-five. Ho .had just asked his engineers to inform him of tho number of men that could be employed on the different sections, including the Hinarau tunnel. He had no desire to cease work in this tunnel, but the conditions in regard to the attitude of men engaged there had become such that work had to he stopped. He had been arranging to resume work, and already had authorised the expenditure of a certain amount between the station and the tunnel. He believed that a number of good men previously employed in tho tunnel desired to go back. He would be glad to give them every chance. If ho could not get sufficient ordinary labour he would have to fall back upon Slavs. The engineer at Whangarei had informed him that ho could find work for 250 men, and arrangements were being made for putting on a large number. A great mistake had been made in deciding upon a deviation of tho route of the line some years ago, but it was too late to remedy that. He was just as anxious as were members waiting upon him to see the works expedited.